A ban was imposed on the Pakistani artistes in India, and the art and cultural exchange between the two countries were curtailed. This ban came in wake of the Uri attacks which left the country devastated over the lost lives of its soldiers. The ban became a topic of debate - some filmmakers stood by it, whereas some opposed it.
Everything soon fell in line as filmmakers first relented, but later accepted the ban. While both the countries decided on the ban, in a recent move by Pakistan, the country has now allowed Bollywood films to screen in their theatres. With Pakistan now allowing Bollywood films to screen at their theatres, should India too withdraw the ban imposed?
Talking to a leading tabloid, Mahesh Bhatt made his remark. He said, "The idea of it could incur the wrath of political parties. The Central government has to come up with a solution if they wish to rebuild relations razed to the ground prior to the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. In my opinion, cultural space must be kept alive; the government needs to deal with terrorism in a different way." Further adding that his opinion will not matter as he is in the minority.
When asked about Pakistan overturning the ban, Mahesh opined, "Banning Indian films reflected the shortsightedness of the Pakistan Film Federation. It was reckless of them to indulge in politics. Because of their decision (not to screen Hindi films), their theatres were shutting down. Our contribution to their industry was immense and that boosted their business much more than indigenous content could. Eventually, one can’t deny the countries are tied culturally and emotionally."
